Novartis has expanded its RNA-based therapeutic portfolio via a licensing and option agreement valued at up to $5.2 billion with Argo Biopharma, focusing on small interfering RNA (siRNA) candidates targeting cardiovascular diseases. The upfront $160 million deal grants Novartis rights to siRNA molecules addressing severe hypertriglyceridemia and mixed dyslipidemia outside China, while also providing a profit-and-loss sharing option for ongoing development programs. This partnership underscores Novartis’s commitment to innovative gene-silencing approaches to combat the global burden of cardiovascular conditions.